Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-03
4 It. This association should never endorse this

| BILL
and thought that any association ha q right to
consider matters OF interest to citizens.
A WATER-TAKERs' MEETING.
Resolutions are Adopted Urging the
| Removal Of the Commissioners.
| Mr.. CRANE REVIEWS HIS CHARGES AND DECLARES
THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ANswERED-FUNDs TO
BE COLLECTED TO RESIST ANY ATTEMPT 10 "sHUT
OFF,
Another meeting was held last evening, at
| SheaS Hall, OF citizens to protest against the
increase in the water tax and the method OF water
administration. The attendance was somewhat
larger than at the last meeting, but the hall was
| not full. The president, Jno. A. Hayward, pre-
sided, and read statement as to the water law
He said that under the corporation law fixing the
water tax there was special tax for stores, but
this had never been construed to apply to small
stores In dwelling where no water was used. He
| thought 1t of more importance to supply the
pumps OF the city with tin cups than to buy
$500 horse for Col. Ludlow, and II they had money
for the one there certainly ought to be money for
Mr. J. H. Crane said that the water law had
Deen IN force ior twenty or thirty years ana hao
never Oeen construed before in this way.
URGING THR BKxovAL OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
The secretary, MIR. Van Buren, Hillyard, then
read resolutions addressed to the President Of the
| United States, which began as follows: "Whereas
1t has been shown that great irregularities, abuse
/ OF power, and miSappropriation OF the public
money exist In the management Of our District
government; therefore Resolved, That we urge, in
WI Wso R&heasy and VIII
liam Ludlow, the board OF Commissioners for the
/ District of Columbia"
As reasons for this action statements are given
| charging defalcation In the water department
and frauds IN the estimates for the water depart
have refused to furnish the proper data for ad
1ustlng the water account; that they have charged
up pG against properly bogus water %
The prohibition laid upon licensed street peddlers
against crying their wares is also urged as rea-
! son Tor removal, and II Is charged that tue Com
missioners shave used the public funds Tor pri-
vate purposes as shown by vouchers on file In the
United States Treasury"
Mr. Linkins moved to strike out the words "the
President" and substitute congress" He
thought that there was no use applying to the
Another citizen said that the Commissioners
were appointed by the President, and he was the
to 20 to 81 there WAS fault to find
The chair said that the President, as mayor OF a
city and as governor or The state, had protected
| the public treasury, and he was likely to do It
| again
| Mr.. CRANE REVIEWS HIS CHARGES.
Mr.. ]. H. Crane said that some time had now
| elapsed since he had called public attention to
| mismanagement in the water ONCE, but no evil
dence has as yet been produced to disapprove
his charges "The Commissioners have, as reported
IN the papers" he sa1d INDUCED in the most alb
| surd equvOcat1ons and have evaded the charge
proven by their own figures of $500 600 deficiency
| In the laying of water mains in six years. did
| not" he said overlook the amount required for
the sinking fund and interest, or the large water
mains. But what has the $500, 900 deficiency to
do with the sinking fund, except that OF itself 1t
seems to be pretty good sinking fund? showed
years up to the 3Oth OF June, 1856, were from
$2o,OOO 10 $4,000 less than the expenditure for
laying water mains each year during all that
that the receipts did not fall short OF the expendi-
lures by more than 10000, and one OF the six
years over $4,000. Now to say that this deficit
| has anything to do with paying the interest on
the water department. dept is to trife with CON-
mon sense. There IS not, he said "a competent
the expenditures for laying water mains under the
present commissioners are twice as much they
should be-" Congress reduced the commissioners
estimates for the present year for the contingent
expenses OF the water department from SIS 1856 to
$1,000. "Now," he said, "how do you suppose the
Commissioners managed TO get the better OF Con-
gress and keep the clerks they applied for besides
putting on many more? l am Informed from
source deem reliable that the laborers pay-rolIs
| carry the names OF two 81, 500 clerks one 81 200
cOpyiot aud several inspectors ! do not know this
OF my own personal knowledge, but am so Informed
by one that has an opportunity to know These men
are paid out OF the appropriation for pipe dstri-
bution,' so am informed" Sir. Crane criticized
the commissioners also for their action In refer
ence TO Waterman assessments. and gave in
stances TO SHOW as he Claimed the injustice OF the
new water rates"
"There seems" he said, ito have been little else
than laundering In the water Office the past year:
the more clerks and the greater the expense, the
greater the blunders People without horses are
charged for horses, while those with horses are
not charged for them. Others living in three
story houses are charged for four stories and vice
versa"
The resolutions were adopted, and copies were
ordered 70 be sent to the President and to the Ct
ZenS Committee.
TO MAKE TEST CASE.
Mr.. 7. c. Murray moved that a committee Of
three be appointed for the purpose Of taking the
names Of all those who had reason to believe that
the water would be turned OF from their premises
Tor any unjust or illegal reason, and that fee of
NIFTY cents should be charged each registering
his name. Then, If the water was turned Of from
the premises OF any one, a test case should be at
once brought the expenses to be paid for out
OF The general fund In this way the rights of all
Mr.. Murray said, could be protected at a nominal
cost. This resolution was adopted, and John A.
Hayward and T. c. Murray were appointed MEN,
Ders of the committee, with power to choose
third member.
Mr.. Michael O'Brien was elected treasurer OF the
meeting and at once passed around the hat for
money 10 pay for the hall.
There was number OF inquiries made by per-
sons who were anxious to know what to do in case
the water was turned on. They were advised to
procure an injunction against the Commissioners
MIR. LinkinS said he Was already in consultation
with lawyer, and he thought that q test case
would soon be brought before the courts
The meeting was adjourned until next Tuesday
evening.